U.S. patent number 6,920,892 [Application Number 10/669,827] was granted by the patent office on 2005-07-26 for side spray diverter valve.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Neoperl, Inc.. Invention is credited to Frank Agresta, Frederick L. Luedke.
United States Patent |
6,920,892 |
Agresta , et al. |
July 26, 2005 |
Side spray diverter valve
Abstract
A side spray diverter valve with anti-siphoning and flow
regulation of the water diverted to the spray head. A ported valve
plunger sliding in a sleeve admits water from the inlet to the
spout in one position while a lower O-ring seals the spray outlet.
In the other position, the sleeve has axially directed ports which
screen and trap particulates in the water over a predetermined
size. The flow rate of screened water to the spray is regulated by
the lower O-ring pressing against grooves in the wall of the
sleeve.
Inventors: |
Agresta; Frank (Wallingford,
CT), Luedke; Frederick L. (Waterbury, CT) |
Assignee: |
Neoperl, Inc. (Waterbury,
CT)
|
Family
ID: |
34313763 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/669,827 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
137/119.04;
137/597 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03C
1/04 (20130101); F16K 11/048 (20130101); E03C
2001/0415 (20130101); E03C 2201/30 (20130101); Y10T
137/87249 (20150401); Y10T 137/2683 (20150401); Y10T
137/268 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
E03C
1/04 (20060101); E03C 1/10 (20060101); F16K
11/048 (20060101); F16K 11/02 (20060101); F16K
011/048 () |
Field of
Search: |
;137/119.03,119.04,119.08,119.09,597 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Krishnamurthy; Ramesh
Attorney, Agent or Firm: McCormick, Paulding & Huber
LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A diverter valve adapted to be received within a faucet assembly
having at least one water inlet, a spout outlet and a spray outlet,
said diverter valve comprising: a cylindrical valve sleeve having a
sleeve wall communicating at an upper end thereof with said spout
outlet, at a lower end thereof with said spray outlet, and along a
central portion thereof with said water inlet, said sleeve defining
a plurality of first inlet ports and a plurality of second inlet
ports both communicating with said water inlet, a spout valve seat
defined in said sleeve wall, a spray valve seat defined in said
sleeve wall, and a plurality of flow regulating grooves defined in
said sleeve wall; and a cylindrical valve plunger having a plunger
wall dimensioned to slide axially with close clearances within said
sleeve and defining a transfer chamber within the plunger wall,
said plunger having a lower valve head arranged to seal the spray
valve seat when the plunger is in an upper axial position, said
plunger having an upper valve head arranged to seal the spout valve
seat when the plunger is in a lower axial position, a plurality of
third and fourth axially spaced ports defined in the plunger wall
and communicating with said transfer chamber, said third and fourth
ports being arranged to admit water from the first inlet ports into
the transfer chamber and from the transfer chamber to the spout
outlet when the plunger is in the upper position and to be blocked
when the plunger is in the lower position, said second inlet ports
being arranged to admit a screened flow of water between the sleeve
and plunger to the spray outlet, said lower valve head being
adapted to cooperate with said flow regulating grooves to regulate
said screened flow when the plunger is in the lower position.
2. The diverter valve according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve
wall has a smaller diameter wall portion forming close clearances
with the plunger wall and a larger diameter wall portion defining
an annular space with the plunger wall, said second inlet ports
directing said screened flow into said annular space.
3. The diverter valve according to claim 1, wherein said lower
valve head is fitted with an O-ring, and wherein said flow
regulating grooves comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced
axially extending grooves defined in said sleeve wall between said
spray valve seat and the lower end of said valve sleeve, the O-ring
being dimensioned to regulate flow by bulging into said grooves
when subjected to a pressure differential thereacross.
4. The diverter valve according to claim 1, wherein said upper
valve head is fitted with an O-ring arranged to seat on the spout
valve seat and seal flow to the spout outlet when the plunger is in
a lower axial position.
5. The diverter valve according to claim 1, wherein said lower
valve head is fitted with an O-ring arranged to seat on the spray
valve seat and seal flow to the spray outlet when the plunger is in
the upper position, and wherein said same O-ring is arranged and
dimensioned to cooperate with said flow regulating grooves to
regulate said screened flow when the plunger is in the lower
position.
6. The diverter valve according to claim 5, wherein said flow
regulating grooves comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced
axially extending grooves defined in said sleeve wall between said
spray valve seat and the lower end of said valve sleeve, the O-ring
being dimensioned to regulate flow by bulging into said grooves
when subjected to a pressure differential thereacross.
7. The diverter valve according to claim 1, wherein said second
inlet ports are substantially axially directed and
circumferentially spaced around said sleeve and are so dimensioned
to screen and trap particulate material of a size large enough to
become entrapped in said flow regulating grooves.
8. The diverter valve according to claim 1, wherein said first
inlet ports are substantially radially directed and
circumferentially spaced around the valve sleeve, and wherein said
second inlet ports are substantially axially directed and
circumferentially spaced around the valve sleeve.
9. A diverter valve adapted to be received within a faucet assembly
having at least one water inlet, a spout outlet and a spray outlet,
said diverter valve comprising: a cylindrical valve sleeve having a
sleeve wall defining a central passage therethrough, said central
passage communicating at an upper end thereof with said spout
outlet and at a lower end thereof with said spray outlet, a central
wall portion of said sleeve wall communicating on the outer surface
thereof with said at least one water inlet, said central wall
portion having a plurality of substantially radially directed inlet
ports and a plurality of substantially axially directed inlet
ports, a spout valve seat at the upper end of said central passage,
a spray valve seat axially spaced from said spout valve seat on the
other side of said central wall portion, and a plurality of
circumferentially spaced flow regulating grooves defined in said
sleeve wall between the spray valve seat and the lower end of the
central passage; and a cylindrical valve plunger having a plunger
wall dimensioned to slide axially with close clearances within said
sleeve wall, said plunger having a transfer chamber closed at
opposite axial ends of said plunger wall, a lower valve head
arranged to seal the spray valve seat when the plunger is in an
upper axial position, an upper valve head arranged to seal the
spout valve seat when the plunger is in a lower axial position, a
plurality of plunger inlet ports and a plurality of plunger outlet
ports defined in the plunger wall and communicating with said
transfer chamber, said plunger inlet ports and plunger outlet ports
being axially spaced from one another and arranged to register with
the upper end of the central passage and with said radially
directed inlet ports respectively when the plunger is in said upper
position so as to admit water from the water inlet through the
transfer chamber to the spout outlet, and to be blocked when the
plunger is in said lower position, said axially directed inlet
ports being arranged to screen and admit a screened flow of water
between the sleeve and plunger to the spray outlet, said lower
valve head being adapted to cooperate with said flow regulating
grooves to regulate said screened flow when the plunger is in the
lower position.
10. The diverter valve according to claim 9, wherein said sleeve
central wall portion is of a smaller diameter forming close
clearances with the plunger wall and wherein said sleeve has a
larger diameter wall portion defining an annular space with the
plunger wall, said axially directed inlet ports directing said
screened flow into said annular space.
11. The diverter valve according to claim 9, wherein said lower
valve head is fitted with an O-ring, the O-ring being dimensioned
to regulate flow by bulging into said grooves when subjected to a
pressure differential thereacross.
12. The diverter valve according to claim 9, wherein said upper
valve head is fitted with an O-ring arranged to seat on the spout
valve seat and seal flow to the spout outlet when the plunger is in
the lower position.
13. The diverter valve according to claim 9, wherein said lower
valve head is fitted with an O-ring arranged to seat on the spray
valve seat and seal flow to the spray outlet when the plunger is in
the upper position, and wherein said same O-ring is arranged and
dimensioned to cooperate with said flow regulating grooves to
regulate said screened flow when the plunger is in the lower
position.
14. The diverter valve according to claim 9, wherein said axially
directed inlet ports are circumferentially spaced around said
sleeve and are so dimensioned to screen and trap particulate
material of a size large enough to become entrapped in said flow
regulating grooves.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to valves for diverting the flow
of fluid from one outlet to another, and more particularly to a
side spray diverter valve used in plumbing faucets with a separate
hose-connected side spray.
Diverter valves are known in the prior art for a faucet which
directs water to either the faucet spout or to a spray nozzle
connected to the faucet assembly by a hose. When the spray nozzle
is activated, the corresponding drop in water pressure in the spray
hose activates the diverter valve so as to divert the water from
the normal faucet spout through which it is flowing to the spray
nozzle outlet. The water supply is usually from both a hot water
line and a cold water line, usually associated with a mixing valve
to adjust the water temperature, although a diverter valve could
operate with only a single source of water under pressure.
A number of diverter valves or transfer valves are known in the
prior art, which have been designed to meet the problems associated
with residential water supplies. One problem is that of particulate
material in the water. Although the usual residential faucet spout
is fitted with an aerator having filters to trap particulate
matter, this is not effective in the case of particulate matter
passing through the diverter valve which can become trapped between
the moving parts and interfere with proper operation. Another
problem for diverter valves connected to an outlet attached to a
hose, which could become immersed in a sink of dirty water, is the
requirement that the diverter valve be of an anti-siphon type. This
requirement is found in American Society of Sanitary Engineering
(A.S.S.E.) standard no. 1025 stating that there be no
back-siphonage of water through the spray or hose when the control
valve of the spray is defective or open and a vacuum is applied to
the faucet inlet. Further requirements are that a diverter valve
meet high temperature and water pressure requirements, that it meet
minimum flow requirements both at the faucet spout outlet and at
the hose spray outlet when the spray is activated, and that it
shall not permit more than a specified leakage at the spout outlet
when the hose spray is activated. Therefore, the diverter valve
should be constructed in such a manner that it meet these
requirements and have provisions for reducing possibility of
particulate matter blocking flow passages and affecting the
performance of the diverter valve.
A prior art diverter valve is known in U.S. Pat. No. 2,587,961
issued Mar. 4, 1952 to Bletcher et al., who disclose a transfer
valve which incorporates an anti-siphonic means to prevent water
from flowing backwards from the spray outlet into the water supply
line should a vacuum condition occur. The transfer valve
incorporates a pressure actuated control valve to divert water at
the inlet into the spray outlet when the spray head is actuated,
and a separate check valve to prevent flow through the spout outlet
should pressure in the water inlet be reduced.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,949,933 issued Aug. 23, 1960 to Moen discloses a
spray diverter valve suitable for a water faucet with an inlet
mixture of hot and cold water, comprising a sleeve with inlet ports
registering with the water supply mixing chamber, and a valve seat
controlling flow to the spout outlet. An unrestrained valve piston
opens and closes the flow to the spout outlet in response to
pressure changes when the spray handle is actuated. Flow to the
spray outlet takes place around a piston with a flexible downwardly
flaring skirt. Also, pressure in the inlet causes the skirt to seal
against the inner surface of the sleeve and movement of the valve
seat to eliminate suction through the inlet. The possibility of
particulate matter becoming lodged in the clearances introduces the
possibility of malfunctions of either the movable valve seat or the
piston.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,402 issued Jun. 19, 1990 to Tarnay et al.
addresses the problem of possible malfunction of the foregoing Moen
type diverter valve by reversing the orientation of the skirt on
the piston to provide a positive seal, and providing a separate
bypass channel to the spout outlet so that there is no flow past
the piston, thereby eliminating the possibility of particulates
jamming the valve. The bypass channel includes a precision size
orifice so that any particulate matter that passes through the
orifice will not be trapped. The Tarnay diverter valve requires the
addition of another valve and valve seat, thereby adding to the
cost of the prior art valves shown by Moen and Bletcher. Since
there is a fixed restriction in the bypass line, there is no flow
regulation to the spray head. This means that there will be greater
flow of water to the spray head at higher pressure resulting in
excess flow, and lower flow at lower pressure, resulting in
insufficient flow.
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an
improved diverter valve for diverting flow from a spout outlet to a
spray outlet when the spray head is actuated, which also
incorporates protection against siphoning contaminated water
through the spray outlet to the water supply when water inlet
pressure is reduced.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved diverter
valve which reduces possibility of jamming any moveable parts with
particulate matter.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved diverter
valve with flow regulation to the spray outlet when the spray head
is actuated.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved diverter
valve with a minimum of working parts suitable for general use in a
variety of diverter valve applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly stated, the invention comprises a valve sleeve with an
upper valve seat, radially directed ports into the sleeve from a
water inlet, axially directed ports through the sleeve from the
water inlet, a lower valve seat, and flow regulating grooves in the
wall of the sleeve. A valve plunger within the sleeve has a valve
head for sealing the upper valve seat to the spout, a lower valve
head for sealing the lower valve seat to the spray outlet plunger
ports which admit water from the radially directed ports in the
sleeve to the spout when the plunger is in an upper position, and
through the axially directed ports in the sleeve past the lower
valve seat to the spray outlet when the plunger is in the lower
position. In the latter position, the lower valve head regulates
flow past the flow regulating grooves, while the axially directed
ports in the sleeve screen and prevent the entry of larger
particulate matter into the flow regulating grooves.
In its preferred form, the invention comprises a diverter valve
adapted to be received within a faucet assembly having at least one
water inlet, a spout outlet and a spray outlet, the diverter valve
comprising a cylindrical valve sleeve having a sleeve wall defining
a central passage therethrough, the central passage communicating
at an upper end thereof with the spout outlet and at a lower end
thereof with the spray outlet, a central wall portion of the sleeve
wall communicating on the outer surface thereof with at least one
water inlet, the central wall portion having a plurality of
radially directed inlet ports and a plurality of axially spaced,
axially directed inlet ports, a spout valve seat defined by the
sleeve wall at the upper end of the central passage, a spray valve
seat defined by the sleeve wall, the spray valve seat being axially
spaced from the spout valve seat on the other side of the central
wall portion, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced flow
regulating grooves defined in the sleeve wall between the spray
valve seat and the lower end of the central passage. Inside the
sleeve is a cylindrical valve plunger having a plunger wall
dimensioned to slide axially with close clearances within said
sleeve wall, the plunger having a transfer chamber closed at
opposite axial ends of the plunger wall, a lower valve head
arranged to seal the spray valve seat when the plunger is in an
upper axial position, an upper valve head arranged to seal the
spout valve seat when the plunger is in a lower axial position, a
plurality of plunger inlet ports and a plurality of plunger outlet
ports defined in the plunger wall and communicating with the
transfer chamber, the plunger inlet and plunger outlet ports being
axially spaced from one another and arranged to register with the
upper end of the central passage and with the radially directed
inlet ports respectively when the plunger is in the upper position
so as to admit water from the water inlet through the transfer
chamber to the spout outlet, and to be blocked when the plunger is
in the lower position, the axially directed inlet ports being
arranged to screen and admit a screened flow of water between the
sleeve and plunger to the spray outlet, the lower valve head being
adapted to cooperate with the flow regulating grooves to regulate
the screened flow when the plunger is in the lower position.
DRAWING
The invention, together with other objects and advantages thereof,
will be better understood by reference to the following
description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a simplified elevation view of the faucet assembly with
side spray,
FIG. 2 is an elevation view, in cross section, of a side spray
diverter valve according to the present invention showing the water
inlet valves and spray valve in schematic form,
FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevation view in cross section, of the
diverter valve assembly with diverter valve plunger in an upper
position for flow to the spout,
FIG. 4 is a view of the valve of FIG. 3 with the plunger in a lower
position for regulated flow to the spray valve outlet, and
FIG. 5 is plan view in cross section, taken along lines V--V of
FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a faucet assembly, shown
generally at 10 is of the temperature mixing type having a faucet
spout 12, hot and cold water inlet connections 14, 16 respectively
controlled by handles 18 and 19. An alternate prior art arrangement
might use a single handle to control both rate of flow and
temperature of the water. A diverter valve (not shown) in
accordance with the present invention is mounted inside a faucet
assembly base 20. A side spray nozzle 22 is connected to a spray
outlet 24 opposite the outlet to spout 12 by a flexible hose 26. A
sink receptacle 28 with a drain (not shown) is provided for waste
water from spout 12 or spray 22. The spray 22 is actuated by a
spray handle 30 actuating an internal valve (not shown). The
foregoing is a description of a well-known type of residential sink
application with separate hose-connected side spray according to
the prior art.
Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawing, a cross sectional view is
shown of a diverter valve assembly indicated generally at 32, which
is located inside of or a part of a valve body 34. The valve body
34 may take many forms according to the manufacturer of the
particular faucet assembly 10. The size and configuration of valve
body 34 is not a material part of the present invention. The
diverter valve assembly 32 is a unit which is inserted into valve
body 34. The hot and cold water inlets 14, 16 are supplied through
valves 38, 40 respectively at water system pressure, which can vary
between 20 to 100 psi according to the type of system. The valves
38, 40 are controlled by handles 18, 19 respectively. The upper end
of valve body 34 comprises a spout outlet 42 leading to spout 12
which is open to atmospheric pressure. Spout 12 usually includes an
aerator with a filter to catch particulate matter flowing through
the open spout outlet 42. The lower end of valve body 34 forms part
of the spray outlet 24 connected through a valve 44 in the spray
nozzle 22.
In accordance with the present invention, the diverter valve
assembly 32 is disposed in a cylindrical bore in the valve body 34,
and comprises a cylindrical valve sleeve 46 with a plunger 48.
Plunger 48 is arranged to move between an upper and a lower
position within sleeve 46 to function in a manner to be
described.
Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawing, an enlarged view is shown
of the valve sleeve 46 with the valve plunger 48 in an uppermost
position. Sleeve 46 is sealingly disposed within a cylindrical bore
50 of valve body 34, and comprises a cylindrical body with axially
spaced upper and lower flanges 52, 54 bridging a hot water inlet
port 56 and cold water inlet port 58 cut in the wall of valve body
34 and supplied by hot water and cold water lines 14, 16
respectively. Hot and cold water inlets 56, 58 lead to a
circumferential mixing chamber 60 partially defined by a reduced
diameter section 62 of the valve sleeve 46.
The water inlet mixing chamber 60 is sealed by an upper O-ring 64
and lower O-ring 66 disposed in circumferential grooves in flanges
52, 54 respectively.
In accordance with the present invention, a first set of
circumferentially spaced, radially directed ports 68 are located
around sleeve 46 and a set of circumferentially spaced, axially
directed ports 70 are located on the sleeve below ports 68.
Radially directed ports 68 are relatively large and of ample size
to accommodate full flow rate from mixing chamber 60 to the spout
outlet. Axially directed ports 70, on the other hand, are carefully
sized to limit flow and to limit admission of particulate matter
over a pre-selected size. For example, a typical diverter valve
sleeve would have ten such axially directed ports 70 with a
diameter of 0.039 inches designed to screen the flow and prevent
the admission of particulates larger than that dimension, while
permitting a screened flow of particles smaller than that
dimension.
The interior of the sleeve 46 comprises a cylindrical passage 72.
In order to shut off the flow of water to spout 42, the upper end
of passage 72 is formed with a valve seat 74. In order to shut off
the flow of water to the spray outlet, a lower valve seat 76 is
formed on the inner sleeve wall. Lastly, flow regulating grooves 78
are formed longitudinally along the inner surface of the sleeve
wall.
Referring now to the construction of plunger 48, the plunger
comprises a cylindrical member with an upper flanged valve head 80
and a lower flanged valve head 82 disposed on either end of a
cylindrical reduced diameter plunger wall 84. Plunger wall 84 has a
first set of circumferentially spaced plunger ports 86 and a second
set of circumferentially spaced plunger ports 88. Ports 86, 88 are
axially spaced so that when plunger 48 is in the upper position
shown, ports 86 are above the valve seat 74 on the upper end of the
central passage 72, while ports 88 register with radially directed
inlet ports 68.
Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawing, reference numbers are the
same as in FIG. 3, but plunger 48 is indicated in the lower
position. In this position, inlet ports 86, 88 are blocked by the
sleeve wall. Upper valve plunger O-ring 81 is seated on spout valve
seat 74. Lower valve plunger O-ring 83 is unseated, but is acting
in conjunction with the flow regulating grooves 78 as shown in FIG.
5.
FIG. 5 is a view taken in cross section through V--V. The lower
diverter housing 36 encloses a lower sleeve wall extension 55, in
which precisely formed flow regulating grooves 78 extend
longitudinally. The O-ring 83 acts in cooperation with flow
regulating grooves 78 in a known manner to regulate the flow by
bulging or expanding into the grooves 78 under increased pressure
differential across the O-ring to reduce the opening so as to
maintain a substantially constant flow. The flow regulating grooves
78 are of such dimension that particulates smaller than those
trapped by axially directed ports 70 will pass through the grooves
78 without becoming lodged in the grooves.
Operation
When water is supplied to inlet chambers 60 under pressure, plunger
48 rises to the upper position shown in FIG. 3, so that water can
flow freely through the registered inlet ports 68, 88 into the
transfer chamber inside valve plunger 80 and out ports 86 to spout
outlet 42. In this position, valve head 82 with lower O-ring 83 is
seated on lower valve seat 76.
When the spray valve is actuated, so that pressure in the spray
outlet 24 is reduced, the areas on the respective valve heads 80,
82 are such that valve plunger 48 moves to the lower position shown
in FIG. 4. In this position, flow to the spout outlet 42 is cut off
by valve 80 with O-ring 81 seated on upper valve seat 74. Water
flow from the mixing chamber 60 is blocked from flowing through the
radially directed ports 68 and constrained to flow through the
axially directed ports 70, and through the flow regulating grooves
78 to the spray outlet 24 as indicated by the flow arrow.
Particulate matter larger than the selected size admitted through
axially directed ports 70 is held temporarily in the mixing chamber
60 and not allowed to pass through ports 70 into the flow
regulating grooves 78, where it could jam the movement of plunger
48. If the inlet pressure in the mixing chamber 60 varies, the
pressure differential changes across O-ring 83 to regulate the flow
so as to hold it substantially constant in a manner known in the
art. Any large particulates screened out by ports 70 and trapped in
chamber 60 will later be flushed out through the spout outlet when
the spray is shut off.
Should the inlet pressure drop below a pre-determined value, while
the spray valve is open, the areas on the plunger are such that the
plunger will rise to seat on valve seat 76 to block flow of any
contaminated water into the inlet, providing an anti-siphoning
action.
Other modifications will occur to those skilled in the art.
Although two water supply lines are shown for hot and cold water,
the arrangement will work equally well with a single water supply
line.
While the valve heads are shown supplied with O-rings, they
obviously could be of another type of valve head designed to
cooperate with the valve seats. For example, while lower O-ring 83
performs a dual function of sealing with valve seat 76 in the upper
position and regulating the flow with grooves 78 in the lower
position, a beveled valve head could perform the former sealing
function, while an O-ring could perform the latter flow regulating
function.
Other modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, and it
is desired to secure in the appended claims all such modifications
as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *